Written Answers Nos. 747-755
747. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of providing 25 bicycle parking racks for a public place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7107/20]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including cycling infrastructure.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
748. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to extend the bus service to Clonaugh, Maynooth, County Kildare in view of the local demand for such a bus service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7141/20]
View answer749. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if provision can be made to provide a daily bus service from Ardclough to Celbridge, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7142/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 748 and 749 together.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport in Ireland. The issues raised are matters for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with the relevant transport operator and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
750. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the safety measures and support measures that will obtain for private contract school transport coaches with regard to Covid-19 when the schools reopen in September. [7147/20]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme comes under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills. Bus services outside that scheme are part of the overall public transport sector.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) is working with public transport operators (both public and private) who are implementing public health advice in relation to issues such as cleaning regimes and social distancing measures designed to limit the risk of spreading Covid-19. The public health advices apply across all public transport. The recently announced 'Return to Work Safely Protocol' also sets out the steps and processes employers and workers must take to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 in the workplace.
From my Department's engagement their representatives, and indeed from the NTA's regular engagement with them throughout, I understand the very difficult business environment that commercial bus operators are facing. Indeed, across Government we are acutely aware that the Covid-19 situation presents huge challenges for very many business sectors.
That is why we have worked to introduce a wide programme of Government supports for impacted businesses. The range of supports available includes new schemes of wage subsidies, rates waivers, re-start grants, lending facilities, equity injection, and business advisory supports for example. I am engaging with my colleague, the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation about these matters and am raising with her the concerns and situation of the commercial operators.
751. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if emergency driver test appointments will be provided for persons whose planned driver tests were cancelled due to Covid-19 and who are carers of adults or children with special needs, which makes urgent their need to be able to drive legally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7160/20]
View answerDue to the closure of services provided by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, I took measures to extend the validity of number of documents, including the learner permit. Any learner permits which were due to expire from 1 March 2020 to 30 June 2020 inclusive have had their period of validity extended by 4 months.
The RSA is currently working, in consultation with my Department, on plans for the resumption of the range of services and functions for which it is responsible, following the publication of the Government roadmap and, more recently, the National Return to Work Safety Protocol as agreed by employer and trade union representatives.
The resumption of driver testing will be of particular concern to learner drivers. As the Deputy will appreciate, the driving test raises particular problems in terms of compliance with the Protocol and in particular social distancing rules, as it requires the driver tester and the candidate to be within a two metre distance continuously for a period in excess of 20 minutes, in a very confined space which is not in itself a workplace under the control of the RSA.
I appreciate that the inability to carry out driving tests at this time is among the many difficulties that we all are having to endure at this time, for those awaiting such tests. On a very preliminary appraisal of the Protocol, car driving tests may have to be the last of the statutory functions, for which the RSA is responsible, to recommence in or after Phase 5 of the Government's roadmap.
Dates for the resumption of the RSA's services, and any special arrangements which will need to be put into place to allow for the provision of these services, will be determined in consultation with the relevant health authorities.
The Road Safety Authority has always operated a system whereby a number of appointment slots are reserved each week for those who require a test urgently, and this facility will continue to be provided once driving tests have resumed.
The safety of the public is of paramount importance at this time, whether from infection or from deaths and injuries on the road, and in this as in all aspects of the Covid-19 crisis, my Department will be guided by NPHET and national experts.
752. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will urgently implement a plan to ensure that driver tests will resume without delay to avoid undue discrimination on drivers in rural areas with no other forms of transport; if he cannot implement a plan to recommence driver tests, if he will allow leniency for drivers that are awaiting a test and have completed their essential driver training to allow them travel to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7203/20]
View answerIt must be understood that a learner permit is not a licence, but a permit to allow a person to drive while learning. The purpose of the driving test is to set out the minimum level of knowledge, skill and competency that a learner must demonstrate in order to become a fully licensed driver. Until a learner can meet this standard and pass this test, they are not safe to take to our roads without appropriate supervision.
Studies have repeatedly shown that unaccompanied learner drivers are markedly more likely to be involved in fatal collisions. For that reason, there can be no exceptions to the current laws in force around learner drivers. Regrettably, there has been an increase in fatalities on our roads so far in 2020, and we must not relax the standards required of our drivers before being awarded a driving licence, even in the case of frontline workers.
An unaccompanied learner driver who is stopped by an Garda Síochána may face penalty points, a fixed charge, seizure of the vehicle and possible prosecution.
Due to the closure of services provided by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, I took measures to extend the validity of number of documents, including the learner permit. Any learner permits which were due to expire from 1 March 2020 to 30 June 2020 inclusive have had their period of validity extended by 4 months.
The RSA is currently working, in consultation with my Department, on plans for the resumption of the range of services and functions for which it is responsible, following the publication of the Government roadmap and, more recently, the National Return to Work Safety Protocol as agreed by employer and trade union representatives.
The resumption of driver testing will be of particular concern to learner drivers. As the Deputy will appreciate, the driving test raises particular problems in terms of compliance with the Protocol and in particular social distancing rules, as it requires the driver tester and the candidate to be within a two metre distance continuously for a period in excess of 20 minutes, in a very confined space which is not in itself a workplace under the control of the RSA.
I appreciate that the inability to carry out driving tests at this time is among the many difficulties that we all are having to endure at this time, for those awaiting such tests. On a very preliminary appraisal of the Protocol, car driving tests may have to be the last of the statutory functions, for which the RSA is responsible, to recommence in or after Phase 5 of the Government's roadmap.
Dates for the resumption of the RSA's services, and any special arrangements which will need to be put into place to allow for the provision of these services, will be determined in consultation with the relevant health authorities.
The safety of the public is of paramount importance at this time, whether from infection or from deaths and injuries on the road, and in this as in all aspects of the Covid-19 crisis, my Department will be guided by NPHET and national experts.
753. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the phase boat rentals in harbour areas fall under the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. [7235/20]
View answerUnder Phase 1 of the Roadmap to Recovery which commenced on Monday 18 May, people are permitted to engage in outdoor sporting and fitness activities on an individual basis. Very small groups – a maximum of four people - are also permitted to engage in outdoor sporting and fitness activity only where there is no physical contact and social distancing of 2 metres can be maintained. However, you are not permitted to travel more than 5kms from your home until Phase 2 commences, which is currently scheduled to commence on 8 June.
Members of the public are also advised to use caution if engaged in water sports, realising there are no lifeguards on the beaches, and many swimming spots are closed off to prevent gatherings, i.e. social distancing.
It is a commercial matter for individual businesses as to when they open depending on the demand from the public arising within the limits of each Phase of the Roadmap.
754. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to aid the rural tourism sector in County Wexford; the way he plans to identify recovery steps for the rural tourism sector nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7266/20]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, Minister Ross and I have appointed a Tourism Recovery Taskforce to prepare a Tourism Recovery Plan which will include a set of recommendations on how best the Irish tourism sector can adapt and recover in the changed tourism environment as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. The plan will identify priority aims, key enablers and market opportunities for the sector including Wexford and rural tourism, for the period 2020-2023. The Taskforce may consult with stakeholders to inform its deliberations and report back later this year.
The development of the tourism industry is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for further information and for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not hear from them within ten working days.
755. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider rolling out extra measures in addition to a moratorium on business debt beyond the measures currently in place to ensure that transport companies in the tourism sector that are vital to same can survive. [7271/20]
View answerI am aware that businesses across many sectors, including transport and tourism, are deeply affected by the Covid-19 public health emergency. That is why we have worked to introduce a wide programme of Government supports for impacted businesses. The range of supports available includes new schemes of wage subsidies, rates waivers, re-start grants, lending facilities, equity injection, and business advisory supports for example.
My Department has been engaged with the Tourism sector since February in relation to the impacts of Covid. In addition, with my colleague, Minister of State Griffin, I have established the COVID-19 Tourism Monitoring Group. This group comprises industry stakeholders, the tourism agencies and Departmental officials and has been specifically established to monitor the disruption to the tourism sector and to assist in formulating the sector’s response to the crisis.
Fáilte Ireland’s COVID-19 Business Support Hub also provides a suite of targeted supports for tourism businesses, to enable them to respond to the challenges and threats now being faced in the sector. Any further measures will be considered in the context of the Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business.
The question of moratorium on business debt would be a matter for my colleague, the Minster for Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
